BACKPACKING in THAILAND
Thailand has long attracted backpackers into its midst due to its incredible sights, great value and rich culture. It has such a variety of destinations that you can easily end up hanging around for a very long time without ever getting bored. Whether you're soaking up the culture in Chiang Mai and the northern provinces or partying on the beaches in the south you'll always be entertained.
For this reason Thailand has become a regular destination for tourists from all over the world - whether they are rich and looking for 5 star service or backpackers on a shoestring budget. While flight prices from the UK aren’t that cheap (you’re looking at around £500 for return flights to Bangkok), once you arrive it is easy to live comfortably without much money in your pockets (£10 a day is definitely doable), making it perfect for backpackers.
Nearly everyone who visits the country will fly to Bangkok and spend at least a couple of days there on arrival. The best place for backpackers to base themselves in Bangkok is near Khao San Road, which has become Bangkok’s “Backpacker Central”. This street and nearby side-streets provides plenty of cheap accommodation, restaurants, bars, noodle-stalls, travel-agents, internet cafes, shops and fellow backpackers – everything you are likely to desire basically – unless you want some peace and quiet. Bangkok can be quite a shock as the hustle and bustle of the city seems to exist 24/7 and if you’re used to a more peaceful lifestyle it’s a big difference. If you keep your wits about you then Bangkok can be incredibly rewarding. It provides a party for all the senses, with incredible smells coming from the street food, locals in colourful outfits and contrasts of old traditional buildings amongst huge skyscrapers. The Grand Palace will be on everyone’s ‘to do’ list and so it should. It is a spectacular, garish experience of shiny golds and giant heads. A visit there is topped by the giant, laid down Buddha which looks all too real when you catch it from some angles. But the main draw of the city is not in the attractions but in the people and the culture. The best way to experience it is to dive in head first; flying around in tuk-tuks at breakneck speed, eating pad thai in the street made fresh in front of you and bartering with market workers for cheap, counterfeit goods. A visit to Bangkok is incredibly rewarding, but it can be very demanding and you may find yourself ready to escape after a couple of days.
This is the perfect time to head up to Chiang Mai, a more rural city in the north of the country which allows you to get a slightly more relaxed, authentic Thai experience. Backpackers are less likely to get hassled by locals and can enjoy their experience a bit more without constantly feeling wary of their surroundings. A trip there should certainly include a visit to the monastery where Buddhist monks continue to live and practice their faith. They’re very welcoming and happy to talk to travelers who show an interest (well, most are!). A visit to the zoo is also a must, with two Pandas as the star attraction amongst a huge variety of tropical animals. But one of the best things about Chiang Mai is its perfect positioning for trips out into the rural areas around the city where there are some fantastic trekking possibilities. Whether you go alone or on one of the many tours on offer you will come across some fantastic scenery and wonderful people. These trips usually culminate in an activity like bamboo rafting or elephant riding which give a welcome rest after a number of days trekking through the jungle!
From Chiang Mai it’s easy to head back down south either by bus, train or air and it won’t be long before you reach paradise on one of the famous Thai islands. If you head for the east coast you can take your pick from Koh Phangan, Koh Samui or Koh Tao, all of which are beautiful have their own unique features. Koh Phangan is the most popular with backpackers due to the well renowned Full Moon Party which draws thousands of backpackers every month. If you’re looking for a slightly more relaxed time then Koh Tao may suit better. It still provides the potential for some raucous beach fun but the reason most travellers go there is for the scuba diving which is readily available for some of the cheapest prices in the world.
Even if you spend a lot of time island-hopping around the east coast it is still worth traversing the country over to Phuket in order to jump on a boat to Koh Phi Phi (or head there via Krabi). Koh Phi Phi is the island made famous for its part in ‘The Beach’ and is just as impressive in real life as it was on screen. It makes an idyllic finish to a fantastic journey around a beautiful country. How long you spend there is up to you, but these places are just skimming the surface of the possibilities in Thailand. Be careful though as the longer you stay, the more difficult it may get for you to leave…
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